COLD CONDITIONS REMAIN ACROSS THE EAST -- Cold high pressure continued moving southeastward across Quebec on Tuesday, maintaining relatively tranquil weather across the Northeastern states. As a result, abnormally cold weather continued across the eastern portion of the country on Tuesday. For a second consecutive day, the low temperature at Mrytle Beach, SC set a daily record, as the temperature on Tuesday morning fell to 25 degrees. Afternoon high temperatures were below the average high temperatures for this time of year, with the largest departures found over the Carolinas where highs were approximately 20 degrees below average.
The high pressure cell is expected to be over the St. Lawrence Valley on Wednesday morning. With clear skies and weak winds, a chilly start to the day is expected over New England.
SNOW HEADS SOUTHEAST -- The storm system responsible for the band of 6 to 10 inch snow across Nebraska and Iowa on Monday moved east-southeastward on Tuesday. Several inches of snow were reported across Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana. By late evening the center of this storm system had reached the Lower Ohio Valley near Paducah, KY An occluded front extended southward from the low pressure center to a point of occlusion over the state of Mississippi, where a warm front traveled eastward and a cold front continued to the southwest along the Gulf Coast and northern Gulf of Mexico. Snow continued around the low pressure center, with widely scattered snow over the Ohio Valley and portions of central Illinois and Indiana. Light snow also was reported across the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians and the Piedmont, extending from Tennessee, to northern Georgia and along the western Carolinas. This snow fell in the cold air that remained over the region from the previous several days.
To the south of the storm, thunderstorms moved across the Gulf Coast. One thunderstorm spawned a tornado that produced damage to a mobile home near Mobile Bay.
By dawn on Wednesday, the storm system should have moved southeastward, with a secondary low forming along the point of occlusion and becoming the dominant low center over southern Georgia. The precipitation shield is forecast to expand northeastward along the Eastern Seaboard, from the Carolinas northward to New Jersey. Because of the residual cold air, as much as 3 inches of new snow was expected over the interior. Winter weather advisories were posted for northern Georgia and the western Carolinas for snow and icy conditions.
AN ALBERTA CLIPPER MOVES EAST -- A low pressure system reformed along the lee slopes of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and then moved eastward. As of late Tuesday evening, this storm system was located in Saskatchewan, with a warm front extending southeastward into the Dakotas. A cold front runs southward to Wyoming before it curves to the west, where the front becomes a stationary front across southwestern Montana. Because of its distance from a major atmospheric water vapor source, little precipitation was associated with the system.
By Wednesday morning this Clipper should have moved east to Manitoba, accompanied by a band of light snow that should spread across the upper Mississippi Valley.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM -- A new storm system located several hundred miles to the west of the Washington State coast spread a cloud shield over the Pacific Coast in advance of the storm system. Rain fell across Washington State, especially near Puget Sound. Flooding continued along rivers of western Oregon and Washington. Snow fell in the Cascades, where several inches had fallen. Windy conditions also preceded the storm system. Storm warnings were in effect for coastal Oregon. A heavy surf advisory was continued for the Washington and Oregon coasts
The storm system is expected to push closer to the Coast on Wednesday. Rain should fall along the immediate coastline. A winter storm warning for snow was issued for the Olympics and Cascades.
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE LOWER 48 -- On Tuesday, the lowest temperature reported in the continental U.S. was 20 degrees below zero at Fryeburg, ME, while Tuesday's high was 85 degrees at San Bernardino, CA.
ALASKAN WEATHER -- A weakening storm system over the central Bering Sea was responsible for clouds and precipitation across the Bering Strait and portions of western Alaska. Another storm system over the eastern Aleutians produced clouds and snow along the Aleutians and portions of the Alaska Peninsula. Winds gusting to 30 mph caused white-out conditions due to blowing snow at Adak and Shemya. A third storm system over the northern Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound spread clouds across southeastern Alaska, to include the Panhandle, where light rain and snow showers were reported at Sitka. Rain was reported along the coast of the Panhandle, with snow at Skagway and Haines. Juneau had wind gusts to 43 mph.
A large ridge of high pressure located over the Arctic Ocean produced a northeasterly and easterly wind along the Arctic Coast. Snow fell along the North Slope and the northwest corner of the state, from Barrow to the Seward Peninsula. Increased winds produced blowing snow that reduced the visibility over the region and caused wind-chill equivalent temperatures to fall to 55 degrees below zero along the Chuckchi Sea coast. Mostly clear skies were found over the interior portions of the state, where cold conditions prevailed, especially along the Alcan border.
The overnight lowest temperature in the state as of Tuesday morning was 31 degrees below zero at Northway, while the midafternoon high was 43 degrees at Port Alexander.
HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- On Tuesday, a ridge of high pressure approaching Hawaii caused winds to weaken over all the islands except for the Big Island, where moderate easterly trade winds persisted. At the same time, relatively cloud-free skies and dry conditions should prevail through the balance of the week.
A SPECTACULAR SKY SHOW -- Venus and Jupiter appeared to come within a quarter-diameter of each other on Tuesday night. For the next several nights, these two bright planets will still be relatively close to one another. This event is the first since 17 February 1975, and will not return until 27 August 2016. Additional information can be found in the NASA Space Science News for 23 February 1999.
SO HOW DID WINTER TREAT YOU? -- Now that meteorological winter is nearly finished, find out what areas of the country did not need as much energy to stay warm in the optional Wednesday Supplemental Information from the lists of cumulative heating degree day units available for selected cities across the country.
From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast
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Prepared by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
© Copyright, 1999, The American Meteorological Society.